Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost – James 3:13-4:3
Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Humility is an unusual thing to define and a much more difficult thing to grasp hold of as a way of going about your life. Peter writes after James that all of us should cloth ourselves with humility (1 Peter 5:5). And yet whenever we see or hear of people serving with humility, there is such a fine line before humility becomes pride in one's own ability to lead a humble life. If the person next to you said, "I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested," how would you react? Would we be tempted to tell them to put a 'lid on it' and stop big-noting themselves? Well this is what Paul said to the elders of the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:19).
Humility may be difficult to live out but this is the life that God's Word calls us to as we hear James describe in our New Testament reading, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."
Heavenly Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit so we may serve your creation with your wisdom. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.